Nikon F501 (N2020
in US) of 1986 carries with an almost similar configuration in specification with
earlier F301 (N2000) but with other enhanced features. But the most significant change
is the Autofocus function it offers. It was Nikon fist mass production AF camera.
The AF calls for a new generation of AF Nikon speedlights for all subsequent Nikon
AF bodies.

Nikon Autofocus SB-20Speedlight

Introduced
to supplement the F501, the autofocus flash SB-20 was designed originally as a companion
flash unit for the second Nikon AF SLR camera, the F-50. In many ways, although it
was designed as an AF flash, but most of its features can also be use on any of the
TTL or non-TTL Nikon bodies. As the flash has an standard ISO-type flash foot, and
during its introduction, Nikon F3 was still a flagship model in the Nikon SLR lineup,
so it needs a flash coupler such as AS-4, AS-7 (TTL coupler AS-17) to bridge for
the Nikon F3. For other Nikon bodies that has ISO-type accessory shoe, the connection
is direct.

It has a high-tech styling,
and packed enough features to supplement the autofocus Nikon F501 (Or called N2020
in U.S). With the F-501, F801 or any Nikon AF cameras, you can use them safely even
in total darkness and still obtain perfect, automatically focused pictures. This
is how it works: When the existing light is below a certain level, the focus-assist
LED AF illuminator of the SB-20 automatically turns on when the camera is set for
Single-Servo AF shooting mode. The illuminator gives contrast to the subject allowing
the F501 and other subsequent Nikon camera's autofocus system to function as though
it were daytime. Exposure control is automatic too. ALL you do is set the selector
of the SB-20 to TTL setting and with the exposure mode selector to any of the AUTO
mode - and you don't even have to worry about shutter speed error as along as you
are using a Nikon AF SLR camera.

Although the SB-20
was originally designed as a dedicated flash for the F501, it can also be used safely
as a companion flash in situations where you need a secondary flash in a multiple
flash setup. TTL can be retained via proper use of Nikon sync cords. In fact, this
AF Speedlight can synchronize in Multi-Sensors balanced fill flash with other later
Nikon AF bodies such as F90 (with AF or AF-I Nikkor series lenses). With the Nikon
f4, Matrix Balanced Fill flash is possible (so does F801s, F601, F601s, F50 or F55
in conjunction with an AF and/or AF-1 lenses).

Extra features as selectable
flash coverage angle and bounce flash (its tilting flash head provides -7° to
90° adjustment) make the SB-20 an even more attractive addition to the autofocus
system. You can even select three different flash lens angle coverage without optional
accessories; the SB-20's flash tube rotates for wide coverage of 28mm, 35 and 85mm.
And you get bounce flash capability as its uniquely designed flash module.

Automatic Mode Operation
The SB-20 lets you choose from five alternative apertures indicated on the back panel.
Manual Mode Operation Lets you choose from five different levels of flash
light output: full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 and 1/16. TTL Flash Mode. The TTL mode lets
you enjoy the ease of TTL flash exposure control as long as the subject is within
the flash working range, you have have the widest selection of aperture to control
depth of field.

The flash has an additional TTL sync connecting socket provided at the side which
made this flash a ready companion if you intend to setup your camera for TTL multi-flash
operations. It is simple and straight forward in its layout and I think this can
well be a very good alternative if you find the SB-16B and/or older Nikon AF speedlight
that you think is too bulky to carry along on a short trip and/or for location shootings.

Number of flashes: Approx. 150* AF assist LED Automatically
fires LED beam at the subject when below predetermined level of brightness when F501,
F801 etc. is set at Single AF Servo mode. * With fresh alkaline-manganese
batteries at full output

W A R N I
N G: The
New G-SERIES Nikkor lenses have
no aperture ring on the lense, they cannot
adjust aperture(s)
when operating in manual exposure control even with certain earlier AF Nikon SLR
camera models. Similarly, not ALL features provide
in a modern AF-S series AF-Nikkor lenses can be utilized fully with a Nikon F4. Please
refer to your local distributor for compatibility issue(s).

PLEASE NOTE: Complimentary links are appreciative
but it is not necessary, I have limited bandwidth here in this server... So, PLEASE
don't distribute this URL to any bulk mailing list or unrelated user-groups, just
be a little considerate, thank you. (The more you distribute, the slower this server
will response to your requests...). I am NOT a Nikon nor Nikkor expert, so don't
send me any mails, use the Message Board Instead. While the content prepared herein
should be adequate for anyone to understand and evaluate whether you should invest
into a used Nikon F4 pro-camera system for your kind of photography. Well, IF you
like what you have seen so far, please help to perfect this site by reporting any
broken links or any errors made.

Credit: ChuckHester, US for his patience, encouragement and help to setup the various content
in this site;RobertJohnson for some of his original images on the F2H-MD appeared
in this site; my ex-staff, KiaSu for his superb 3-D logo
appeared in this Nikon F2 site;Marc Vorgers from Holland who generously provide me
with some of his images of F2AS; MCLau®,
who has so much time with me to re-edit the content in this site and not to mention
buying a Nikon Coolpix 990 just for this site; Paul Armstrong (pkared@ameritech.net) for
his explantion of the FF2 Slidemagic and Nikon F2 Pin CameraKeatPhoto, Kuala Lumpur for providing their Nikon F2A to take
some images for this site;
Mr EdwardNgoh the great camera collector who provides
us his collection of F2AS with MD-2; hawkeye.photographic.com for their images
on the Speed Magny film backs;SeanCranor for his image on Nikon
F2 25th Anniversary Model; TedWengelaar®,Hollandfor
his continuous flow of input on some of the early Nikon bodies; Genesis-Camera for granting permission to use an image
of the SS-F2 camera;
Mr Sover
Wong,
Australia for those great images of his rare F2 Gold;CYLeow ®, photo editor of the Star newspaper,
Malaysia for some of his images used in this site. Ms Rissa Chan, Sales manager from Shriro
Malaysia who has helped to provide some of the very useful input. HiuraShinsaku®,
Nikomat ML, Japan for some of his images on various F2 models; my staff, Wati, Maisa,
Mai and my nephew, EEWyn®, who volunteered and helping me did so many of the
film scanning works; Hong-sien
Kwee
of Singapore for all the Nikon F2 Pin camera images appeared in this site;Luigi
Crescenzi for many of his images on the Nikon F2 Titan; John for two of his images of the Nikon F2/T used in
this site; Contributing photographers
or resellers: Jen Siow, Foo KokKin, Arthur Teng, Mark Fallander,John Ishii, EdHassel,
YoonKiKim, Jean-Louis, M.Dugentas (Dell Corner.com.), Mr "Arsenall", Yang Zi Xiongand a few images mailed in from surfers
with no appropriate reference to their origin. Note:certain content and images appeared in this
site were either scanned from official marketing leaflets, brochures published by
Nikon and/or contribution from surfers who claimed originality of their own work
to publish in this site based on educational merits. The creator of this site will
not be responsible for any discrepancies that may arise from such possible dispute
except rectifying them after verification."Nikon", "Nikkormat", "Nippon Kokagu KK" & "Nikkor" are registered tradename
of Nikon Corporation Inc., Japan. A site made with an Apple IMac.